LIRR resumes normal rush hour service

MTA Long Island Rail Road began the day providing rush hour service to Midtown Manhattan comparable to levels prior to Hurricane Sandy's impact Oct. 29, and at least two weeks ahead of earlier expectations.

Amtrak during the weekend said it had restored nominal signaling to one of the two East River tunnels damaged by the hurricane. Amtrak and LIRR operate through four East River tunnels in all, but the two damaged tunnels usually handle the bulk of LIRR service.

Objections arose from several quarters, including New York's congressional delegation, when Amtrak earlier projected restoration by the New Year.

Signal repairs are still ongoing in the remaining tunnel affected by flooding, with completion anticipated by Christmas.

LIRR resumed service on most of its system fairly quickly following the hurricane, but access to and from Penn Station-New York, in Midtown, has been limited until now due to the capacity constraints posed by the damaged tunnel infrastructure.